If you have read my article on the best oils for acne prone skin, you are now aware of the need to find natural makeup with carrier oils that are only high in linoleic acid, or are free of carrier oils all together, for example some natural brands of powdered mineral makeup. It is extremely easy to change your skin care regimen to simple DIY skin care to heal acne, yet more challenging finding quality natural makeup that won’t contribute to more breakouts. There are more and more natural beauty brands emerging on the market, yet many of them contain coconut oil, almond oil, and other carrier oils high in oleic acid that can clog pores especially for those who are acne prone.
Once you become more aware of the carrier oils that are high in linoleic acid, make it a consistent practice to read ALL of the ingredient labels, and look for both skin care, hair care, and makeup that contain them.
Acne prone skin is naturally low in linoleic acid. It is high concentrations of oleic acid in the skin’s sebum which clog pores creating acne, as well as poor diet, digestion issues, dehydration, chemical laden beauty products, etc. Using natural skin care and makeup which contain carrier oils that are higher in linoleic acid really helps to balance out the skin topically. It is still crucial to focus on healing the body from the inside out too though. Our skin reflects what is going on inside the body as well as mental and emotional stress levels, so let’s not forget that. With that said let’s look at a few makeup items that will be more suitable for acne prone skin based on the ingredients. Please note that not every product from the brands listed below contain carrier oils high in linoleic acid, so please read the labels of any other products that you may be interested in. For more information on the best oils for acne prone skin read this!
Primer/No Color Foundation
Vapour Organic Beauty Stratus Instant Skin Perfector
Ingredients: oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil* infused with boswellia carteri (frankincense)**, ocimum sanctum (tulsi/holy basil)*, nelumbo nucifera (lotus) flower petals**, helianthus annuus (sunflower) oil*, silica, cera alba (beeswax)*, lysine, sambucus nigra (elderberry) fruit extract, lecithin, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil & lecithin & cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) seed oil & papain (papaya)*, mica (ci 77019), titanium dioxide (ci 77891), essential oils & natural fruit essences, tocopherol (natural vitamin e).
Foundations/Concealer
Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Luminous Foundation
Ingredients: Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Organic Cera Alba (Beeswax), Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Silica, Mica, Essential Oils & Natural Fruit Essences, Wildcrafted Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense) Gum, Organic Ocimum Sanctum (Tulsi/Holy Basil) Leaf Extract, Organic Nelumbo Nucifera (Lotus) Leaf Extract [+/-: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499)]
W3LL People Altruist Mineral Foundation
Ingredients: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, ultramarine blue, mica, kaolin clay, serecite, silica, aloe barbadenis (aloe)*, matricaria recutita (chamomile)*, camellia sinensis (green tea)*.
Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation
Ingredients: titanium dioxide (ci 77891)*, zinc oxide (ci 77947)*, mica (ci 77019)*. may contain + / – : iron oxides* ( ci 77491*, ci 77492*, ci 77499* ).
W3LL People Narcissist Foundation + Concealer Stick
Ingredients: helianthus annuus (sunflower) oil*, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, cera alba (beeswax)*, silica, castor isostearate beeswax succinate **, mica (ci 77019), carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil (and) aloe barbadenis (aloe) extract, lysine, non-gmo tocopherol (sunflower derived), proprietary essential oil blend, camellia sinensis (green tea)*, roman anthemis nobilis (chamomile)**.
may contain + / – : titanium dioxide (ci 77891), iron oxides (ci 77491, 77492, 77499).
Vapour Organic Beauty Illusionist Concealer
Ingredients: Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Organic Cera Alba (Beeswax), Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Silica, Mica, Essential Oils & Natural Fruit Essences, Wildcrafted Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense) Gum, Organic Ocimum Sanctum (Tulsi/Holy Basil) Leaf Extract, Organic Nelumbo Nucifera (Lotus) Leaf Extract [+/-: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499)]
Powder
Alima Pure Satin Finishing Powder
Ingredients: mica (ci 77019)*. may contain + / – : iron oxides* ( ci 77491*, ci 77492*, ci 77499* ).
Alima Pure Luminous Shimmer Powder
Ingredients: titanium dioxide (ci 77891)*, zinc oxide (ci 77947)*, mica (ci 77019)*. may contain + / – : iron oxides* ( ci 77491*, ci 77492*, ci 77499* ).
RMS Beauty “Un” Powder
Ingredients: 100% Pure Silica
Blush
Vapour Organic Beauty Aura Multi-Use Blush – Classic
Ingredients: Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Organic Cera Alba (Beeswax), Silica, Mica, Castor Isostearate Beeswax Succinate*, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Essential Oils & Natural Fruit Essences, Wildcrafted Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense) Gum, Organic Ocimum Sanctum (Tulsi/Holy Basil) ) Leaf Extract, Organic Nelumbo Nucifera (Lotus) ) Leaf Extract [+/-: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Carmine (CI 75470)]
Vapour Organic Beauty Aura Multi-Use Blush – Stain
Ingredients: Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Organic Cera Alba (Beeswax), Silica, Mica, Castor Isostearate Beeswax Succinate*, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Essential Oils & Natural Fruit Essences, Wildcrafted Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense) Gum, Organic Ocimum Sanctum (Tulsi/Holy Basil) ) Leaf Extract, Organic Nelumbo Nucifera (Lotus) ) Leaf Extract [+/-: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Carmine (CI 75470)]
W3LL People Purist Mineral Blush
Ingredients: mica, iron oxides, titanium dioxide. may contain + / : ultramarine blue, ferric ferrocyanide, aloe barbadenis powder (aloe)*, matricaria recutita (chamomile)*, camellia sinensis (green tea)*.
Alima Pure Satin Matte Blush
Ingredients: mica (ci 77019)*. may contain + / – : iron oxides* ( ci 77491*, ci 77492*, ci 77499* ), titanium dioxide (ci 77891)*.
Bronzer
Alima Pure Bronzer
Ingredients: mica (ci 77019)*. may contain + / – : iron oxides* ( ci 77491*, ci 77492*, ci 77499 )*, titanium dioxide (ci 77891)*.
W3LL People Bio Bronzer
Ingredients: mica, iron oxides, titanium dioxide. may contain + / – : ultramarine blue, ferric ferrocyanide, aloe barbadenis powder (aloe)*, matricaria recutita (chamomile), camellia sinensis (green tea)*.
Although I did not mention this in the article on oils high in linoleic acid, shea butter and cocoa butter are higher in oleic acid. Those are two others ingredients in many natural beauty brands that I personally avoid as I have noticed that although wonderful for the skin have caused me to break out. And yes I did stop using my beloved shea butter in my hair because of it.
After one full year of only using products and ingredients that were higher in linoleic acid, I realized that this scientific theory of topically using carrier oils higher in linoleic acid greatly helped to balance the sebum in my skin and heal my skin overall. Many other readers who have tried using carrier oils high in linoleic acid have shared their success with these types of oils for acne prone skin as well.
I personally make my own foundation and powder at home, and prefer to do so to get the best match for my skin complexion, and to minimize the use of titanium dioxide which is in almost every makeup that I have seen on the market. I also have not tried every makeup item listed, yet am suggesting them based off of their ingredients. I have used Vapour Organic Beauty products, and have tried and loved their Stratus Instant Skin Perfector and Aura Multi-Use Blush – Stain in “crave”.
Lastly if you enjoy using powdered makeup it is extremely important to keep your makeup brushes very very clean. Bacteria from dirty brushes can contaminate your makeup and create more acne. If possible do your best to wear minimal face makeup as much as possible so that your skin can breath. I know it can be very challenging because we get used to how our skin looks in foundation etc. Weaning yourself off of makeup (specifically foundation) is what really helps to get your skin to the next level. The Vapour Organic Beauty Stratus Instant Skin Perfector is the product that I used over the past few years to help me feel more comfortable not wearing a full face of foundation, concealer, bronzer and highlighter.
Wearing makeup and desiring clear skin is almost a complete contradiction, yet it is possible to become less dependent as your skin heals. You can read how I cleared my skin and acne scars here.
Don’t forget about the Mountain Rose Herbs Henna Giveaway which ends November 24th!
Update… Organic Skin Care by Minimalist Beauty ~ i am AZUHA ~ Created With Oils High in Linoleic Acid
(Image by Dawn Michelle)
Marah says
I was under the impression that castor and sunflower oils were high in oleic acid…Guess I was wrong! Are you comfortable with using these oils on your skin? What is the linoleic/oleic acid balance of sunflower? Also, what is your take on beeswax?
Thanks for the great list! I’m glad to have it for future reference.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Marah,
Castor oil is higher in linoleic oil and sunflower oil is sometimes higher in oleic or linoleic depending on how the oil is produced and if it is genetically modified. I have seen varying values of sunflower oil. As for beeswax I haven’t had any problems with it yet if you have had problems I wouldn’t use it. You can see more oil ratios of oleic vs linoleic here. <3
Mariah says
I was under the impression that sunflower oil and castor oil were high in oleic acid…guess I was wrong! What is the oil composition of sunflower? Also, how do you feel about using beeswax on your skin? Do you think it affects acne?
Thanks for the great list! It’s nice to have this for future reference.
Glenda says
I use Vapour cosmetics, too, and I adore them. My skin looks better than ever before in my life, and it’s also due to rigorously sticking to eating a Primal/Paleo/organic/grass-fed-meats diet. People very often tell me that my skin looks like it glows.
Thanks for this post, I’m letting others know about it!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Glenda,
Once you stop eating processed foods and eat organic whole foods you will definitely notice a huge difference in your skin. Thanks for sharing this!
Kisha says
Hi Dawn, great post. I follow the same skin care routine you do still in corporating jojoba oil here and there. I really like Alima pure blush and bronzer but am trying to avoid titanium dioxide. One thing I read about recently is the increased used of oils with omega 6 and 9 that is highly present in soy products which may not be very good for us and our gut. Also saw a video about magnesium oil as deodorant on YouTube by spark wisdom very insightful video about magnesium deficiency and symptoms such as infertility and sleeplessness. Just sharing what I have learned 🙂
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks Kisha!
I avoid soy products and processed foods in general. Thanks for sharing this information as well. I’m going to check out that video. <3
yvon says
for a oily combination, acne prone skin, what type of makeup foundation/concealer suit it, eg. liquid, cream, stick, powder?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Yvon,
Powdered mineral foundations and concealers work well with oily skin yet the type of makeup you use is also a personal preference. Most importantly focus on skin care to help balance oily skin. Our skin produces excess oil when it is stripped by harsh cleansers etc. as well as a result to eating highly processed and fried foods. I enjoy oil cleansing yet you can find gentle solutions for skin care in this series. Best wishes!
Karin | green conscience says
Have you tried linolenic instead of linoleic acid oils? For me, that made as much difference as my switch from random oils and butters to the more linoleic ones.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Karin,
I stick with high linoleic oils as that is what has worked best for me. Hope you’re having a great day!
Sara says
Thanks so much for your beautiful site and this fantastic list! I appreciate the research you’ve done and the insight you’ve shared. I do have a question regarding the ratio of linoleic to oleic acids within overall product formulations. For example, if a product has some tamanu or a bit of a butter (say, mango) but also has evening primrose and pumpkin seed, it would be entirely possible for the overall ratio of the product to still be relatively high in linoleic and relatively low in oleic acids. So my question is, if it’s the ratio that’s important, would the “end” result still be suitable for acneic skin? Or is it really just crucial to avoid something like tamanu altogether? I ask in part because my skin does not love beeswax so Valour and W3ll People products aren’t great choices for me, and while I love my Alima powder sometimes it’s not sufficient coverage. I’m eyeballing Raw Skin Ceuticals (because the ratios might be agreeable), Haute Cosmetic’s (because reviews sound good for when more coverage is needed), and Gressa (because I can’t find fatty acid info for some of the ingredients and it gets good reviews) foundation offerings. I would so appreciate your feedback! Thanks again for all you contribute to the minimalist lifestyle conversation!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Sara,
I use only high linoleic oils now because even when I mixed shea butter (which is high in oleic acid) with three high linoleic oils and used it on my hair this spring it broke me out. I shared my one year update with using high linoleic oils here and I am now two years in.
sarah weiss says
Hi, Dawn!
I’ve been searching for new, clean make up for my skin and found that Alima has a pressed foundation and wanted to know your thoughts on it. There are A lot of ingredients in it, which seem to be pretty clean and skin-healing and soothing, but I wouldn’t want to start putting even more unnecessary ingredients on my skin. I will post the ingredients below so you can see them. Naturally I am very fair with very dry skin and slight hormonal acne on my jawline.
“Mica, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder, Zinc Stearate, Tocopherol (Vitamin E, Sunflower derived), Squalane (vegetable derived), Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Limonene, Dehydroacetic Acid, Linalool, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract,Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Leaf Extract, Rosa Rubiginosa (Rosehip) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Sweet Orange) Peel Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Flower Extract [+/- CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI77491 (Iron Oxide-Red), CI 77492 (Iron Oxide-Yellow), CI 77499 (Iron Oxide-Black)]. *Made from a proprietary blend of all-natural essential oils. Vegan and gluten free.”
That’s the whole list. What do you think about it?? Thanks so much for your time!
<3 sarah.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Sarah,
My main concern with these ingredients is fragrance (parfum) which is listed near the top. It is one of the most toxic and irritating ingredients used in cosmetics. I’m wondering why it is not just listed as an essential oil blend if that is truly the case. Otherwise it could possibly contain more. I also avoid shea butter for my face since it makes me break out. I’ve never tried argan oil because it is high in oleic acid. I hope this helps.
Michelle says
Hi, what sunscreen would you recommend for oily skin that has occasional acne ?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Michelle,
I shared some of my favorite sunscreens here. I hope that the info is helpful to you!
Dolly says
Have you ever tried 100% Pure products? I’ve found that they are the only line that doesn’t make me break out. They are tinted with fruit extracts even. I love this line and encourage you to try it!
Dolly says
And, by the way, thank you for this blog! I have my Amazon cart full and am ready to check out! I can’t wait for your skincare line to come out so I can try that too!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Dolly,
I have tried and enjoyed 100% Pure products. Also I’m so glad you are enjoying the blog and I appreciate your excitement for the skin care line. I’m looking forward to sharing it. Best wishes!
Masha Sarah Huq says
Hi
Try the zuii organics producta and give us a review about it? What do you think?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Masha,
I originally wrote this article in 2014. Since last fall I actually stopped wearing makeup all together. It seemed radical at first, but it has been such a freeing decision.